Memory banking: A life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion

Faika Zanjani; Brian G. Downer; Amy F. Hosier; John D. Watkins

doi:10.1177/0898264314551170

Memory banking: A life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion

Faika Zanjani, Brian G. Downer, Amy F. Hosier, John D. Watkins

Health, Behavior, and Society

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of Memory Banking (MB), a life story development intervention within the context of aging preparation. Individuals participate in MB to strategically document and share their life story, including mapping out future dreams, aspirations, plans, and decisions. Method: Data (2010-2012) from eight MB workshops were examined to determine the impact of the intervention on mental health, social support, and quality of life. Results: Recruitment efforts resulted in n = 72 participants, primarily female (72%), White/Caucasian (93%), average age of 70 years. Data indicated intervention effects showing improvements in depression (p =.041), mood disturbance (p =.0067), and cognitive performance (p =.0045). Discussion: MB outcomes indicate that the intervention is promising and supports continued investigation and development in the area of life story development for aging preparation and improving late life mental health distress in a community setting. Future research is needed to examine the versatility and long-term effects of the MB intervention.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	355-376
Number of pages	22
Journal	Journal of Aging and Health
Volume	27
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264314551170
State	Published - Mar 14 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health awarded to Faika Zanjani (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K01DA031764), Tom Curry (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K12 DA014040), Health Education Through Extension Leadership (HEEL) center, which is supported by Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service / United States Department of Agriculture Federal Administration, and the Research Trust Challenge Grant awarded to the Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.

Keywords

aging
brain exercise
communication
intervention
legacy
life story
mental health
social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Sociology and Political Science
Life-span and Life-course Studies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/0898264314551170

Cite this

@article{4912160a42f740b6bd2e24b9f5f42acd,

title = "Memory banking: A life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion",

abstract = "Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of Memory Banking (MB), a life story development intervention within the context of aging preparation. Individuals participate in MB to strategically document and share their life story, including mapping out future dreams, aspirations, plans, and decisions. Method: Data (2010-2012) from eight MB workshops were examined to determine the impact of the intervention on mental health, social support, and quality of life. Results: Recruitment efforts resulted in n = 72 participants, primarily female (72%), White/Caucasian (93%), average age of 70 years. Data indicated intervention effects showing improvements in depression (p =.041), mood disturbance (p =.0067), and cognitive performance (p =.0045). Discussion: MB outcomes indicate that the intervention is promising and supports continued investigation and development in the area of life story development for aging preparation and improving late life mental health distress in a community setting. Future research is needed to examine the versatility and long-term effects of the MB intervention.",

keywords = "aging, brain exercise, communication, intervention, legacy, life story, mental health, social support",

author = "Faika Zanjani and Downer, {Brian G.} and Hosier, {Amy F.} and Watkins, {John D.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health awarded to Faika Zanjani (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K01DA031764), Tom Curry (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K12 DA014040), Health Education Through Extension Leadership (HEEL) center, which is supported by Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service / United States Department of Agriculture Federal Administration, and the Research Trust Challenge Grant awarded to the Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2014.",

year = "2015",

month = mar,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1177/0898264314551170",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

pages = "355--376",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Memory banking

T2 - A life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion

AU - Zanjani, Faika

AU - Downer, Brian G.

AU - Hosier, Amy F.

AU - Watkins, John D.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health awarded to Faika Zanjani (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K01DA031764), Tom Curry (National Institute of Drug Abuse 5K12 DA014040), Health Education Through Extension Leadership (HEEL) center, which is supported by Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service / United States Department of Agriculture Federal Administration, and the Research Trust Challenge Grant awarded to the Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

PY - 2015/3/14

Y1 - 2015/3/14

N2 - Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of Memory Banking (MB), a life story development intervention within the context of aging preparation. Individuals participate in MB to strategically document and share their life story, including mapping out future dreams, aspirations, plans, and decisions. Method: Data (2010-2012) from eight MB workshops were examined to determine the impact of the intervention on mental health, social support, and quality of life. Results: Recruitment efforts resulted in n = 72 participants, primarily female (72%), White/Caucasian (93%), average age of 70 years. Data indicated intervention effects showing improvements in depression (p =.041), mood disturbance (p =.0067), and cognitive performance (p =.0045). Discussion: MB outcomes indicate that the intervention is promising and supports continued investigation and development in the area of life story development for aging preparation and improving late life mental health distress in a community setting. Future research is needed to examine the versatility and long-term effects of the MB intervention.

AB - Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of Memory Banking (MB), a life story development intervention within the context of aging preparation. Individuals participate in MB to strategically document and share their life story, including mapping out future dreams, aspirations, plans, and decisions. Method: Data (2010-2012) from eight MB workshops were examined to determine the impact of the intervention on mental health, social support, and quality of life. Results: Recruitment efforts resulted in n = 72 participants, primarily female (72%), White/Caucasian (93%), average age of 70 years. Data indicated intervention effects showing improvements in depression (p =.041), mood disturbance (p =.0067), and cognitive performance (p =.0045). Discussion: MB outcomes indicate that the intervention is promising and supports continued investigation and development in the area of life story development for aging preparation and improving late life mental health distress in a community setting. Future research is needed to examine the versatility and long-term effects of the MB intervention.

KW - aging

KW - brain exercise

KW - communication

KW - intervention

KW - legacy

KW - life story

KW - mental health

KW - social support

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922939935&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84922939935&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0898264314551170

DO - 10.1177/0898264314551170

M3 - Article

C2 - 25239929

AN - SCOPUS:84922939935

SN - 0898-2643

VL - 27

SP - 355

EP - 376

JO - Journal of Aging and Health

JF - Journal of Aging and Health

IS - 2

ER -

Memory banking: A life story intervention for aging preparation and mental health promotion

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this